Ship salvaging apparatus



Jan. 2, 1951 R. G. SOLHEIM 2,536,103

SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 hive/[tar iassau. Er. SDLHEJM 9M N W W torneys Jan. 2, 1951 R. G. SOLHEIM 2,536,103

' SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 2, 1951 R. e. SOLHEIM 2,536,103

I SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1946 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 a: a 5 f 5.9 v I I 42 o E F o 34 2 EJJE- El 43 4 L 2.4

4 I Inventor LISSELL E. SEILHEIM J n- 2, 1951 R. G. SOLHEIM 2,536,103

SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I. SSELLB- Sou-15M 2 1 -13!- ufl r=| 57 1 6;

Attorney;

Jan. 2, 1951 R. G. SOLHEIM 2,536,103

SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor RUSSELL Er. Sou-151M MIL M Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIP SALVAGING APPARATUS Russell G. Solheim, Racine, Wis.

Application March 16, 1946, Serial No. 654,983

This invention relates to ship salvaging and more particularly to the elevation of sunken vessels to the surface.

The primary object of the invention is to facilitate the attaching of pontoons to the hull of a sunken vessel, and the subsequent elevation of the vessel to the surface by means of the pontoons.

Another object is to guide the pontoons to the sunken hull and avoid the use of divers for the connecting of the pontoons to the hull of the sunken vessel.

Among its features my invention embodies a hook adapted to be secured to the hull of a sunken vessel, a link pivotally fixed at one end to the hook, a guide cable attached to the opposite end of the link leading to the surface of the body of water on the bottom of which the sunken vessel lies, a pontoon having a guide passage through which the guide cable is adapted to be threaded and means carried by the pontoon for engaging the link and automatically locking the pontoon against upward movement independently of the hook.

Other features include means for admitting water to the interior of the pontoon for sinking the same after the guide cable has been threaded therethrough, and means for expelling the water from the pontoon after it has attached itself to the link in order to reestablish its buoyancy and create a lifting effort on the hull.

Still other features include a diving bell which is adapted to be lowered in a position to contact the hull of the sunken vessel, means to engage the side of the sunken vessel and seal the diving bell thereto, a hook carried by the diving bell, a link pivotally attached at one end to the hook, a cable attached to the opposite end of the link and leading to the surface, means in the diving bell through which access may be had to the hook after the bell has become sealed to the hull of the sunken vessel, to facilitate the attach" ing of the hook to the hull, means to seal the opening giving access to the hook afterit has been welded to the hull of the vessel whereby the bell may be unsealed from contact with the hull and elevated to the surface.

Still other features include a diving bell and working bay in which the occupant of the diving bell may work at normal atmospheric pressure.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a diving bell lowered from a tender and contacting the side of the hull of a sunken vessel,

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1,

1 Claim. (Cl. 114 51) Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the diving bell showing a portion of the hull of the vessel with the diving bell attached thereto,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a diving bell embodying the features of this invention,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a diving bell showing the hook in position to be attached to the hull of a sunken vessel,

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 'l'l of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through a pontoon showing the manner in which it is locked to the side of a sunken vessel,

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View similar to Figure 1 showing a pontoon lowered along one of the guide cables and about to engage the links carried by a hook which has been previously attached to the hull of the sunken vessel,

Figure 10 is a side view of Figure 9, and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the discharge nozzle used in emptying the working bay.

Referring to the drawings in detail the vessel to be salvaged is designated generally I5, the

' hull of which is designated IS. A salvage vessel designated generally ll is equipped with the customary winches, electrical power generators, air compressors and like equipment as well as booms i8 and masts I9.

Suspended from a boom I8 is a cable 20 which is connected to the lifting yoke of a diving bell designated generally 2i which will be more fully hereinafter described. A guide cable 22 is led from a winch over the side of the salvage vessel l! and is attached to one end of the link carried by the diving bell as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

The diving bell 2| comprises a hollow substantially cylindrical chamber or capsule 23 provided in its side with a port or opening 24 which is surrounded by a laterally extending collar 25 from diametric opposite points of which extend trunnions 26 to the outer ends of which are attached the legs 2'! of an inverted U-shaped yoke 28 to which the suspension cable 20 is attached. The trunnions are pivotally mounted in the yoke 28 so that the angular position of the bell 2| may be altered with relation to the yoke for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described. Fixed to the yoke 28 is a gear 29 which meshes with a pinion 30 carried at the outer end of a shaft 3| which enters the side of the capsule 23 through a suitable water tight packing and is provided at its inner end with a hand wheel 32 by means of which the pinion may be rotated from the interior of the diving bell 2|.

Slidably mounted on the tubular body or capsule 23 is a door 33 which in one position is adapted to close the port 24 and have sealing en gagement with the inner wall 23' of the cylindrical body 23 adjacent the port opening, it being understood that the door 33 is held in such sealing contact by .means of suitable bolts 34 which are accessible from the interior of the diving bell for manipulation by the occupant thereof. A liquid discharge pipe 35 has communication with the interior of the collar 25 and is connected through the medium of a pump 36 driven by a prime mover such as an electric motor 37 with an outlet pipe 38 leadingupwardlyand outwardly through the interior of the diving bell to a discharge nozzle 39 in the top thereof. The discharge nozzle 33 is .made in the form of a venturi and leading through one of the vfittings connecting it to the pipe 38 is a high pressure air pipe 40 which is connected through the medium of an air pressure line 4| to a pump carried ;by the surface vessel or tender l1.

Suspended .on suitable detachable links '42 :at the mouth of the'collar 25 opposite that whichis attached to the cylinder 23 is ahook designated generally 53, and cooperating with the links "42 is a turnbuckle 44 by means of which tension may be released from the links to permit -dismounting of :the book 43 from its position in the mouth of the collar 25 as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 5. The hook 43 comprises a base member 45 of substantially cone-shaped configuration from the apex :of which extends an arcuate arm or hook member 46 provided with .a depending ear 41 which is pierced to receive a bolt 48, the threaded end of which is received in the cone-shaped body.-45 in order to secure in place a link 49 the lower end of which is provided with an eye to receive the hook 46 while the'upper end has attached thereto the guide cable 22. As shown in Figure .5 the link projects upwardly through an opening 50 formed in the collar 25 :in such a position that the link 43 lies parallel with the longitudinal axis of theicliving bell 2 l.

Surrounding the collar 25 and yieldingly engaging it is a collar or sleeve 5| formed -.of .a soft pliable waterproof material such as irubber. Formedat the end =of the sleeve .5! adjacent the mouth of the collar .25 is an outstanding annular flange :52 the edge of which is feathered to .form in effectza suctioncup as will be more fully hereinafter explained. The collar-5i .is attached permanently to the collar 25 by means of anattaching ring .53, and is provided with ;a passage 54 for the accommodation of the link 49. An upstanding feathered- .collar 55 surrounds the opening 54 in-ordereflectively to seal the link 49 ins-aid sleeve 5i against the entrance of water. Spaced openings 5.5 and 56' .are formed in the flange 52 parallel with the opening 54 and :conmeeting the opening 753 with the @base .of thev flange opposite that facing the diving bell 2| is a slit 51. A like slit 5? establishescommunication between .the openings 54 and 55'. Formed in the collaror sleeve 51 adjacent the opening :50 is .a parallel passage =53 the wall of "which is formed witha longitudinal :slit;5.1 which extends to the passage 5.4.

The diving "bell 1 2i :is provided with convenient lamps :58 and e 59 which :are sealediag the entrance of waterin order to aid in visibility when working at great depth, and leading from the tender or surface vessel I! to the diving bell is an electrical conduit 60 by means of which power may be supplied from a generator aboard the tender to light the lamps and supply power to electrical welding equipment by which the hook 43 may be welded to the hull I5 of the sunken vessel I5.

The operation of the diving bell is as follows:

When it is desired to raise a sunken ship the tender [7 is maneuvered to a position as nearly directly above the sunken vessel as is possible after which the bell 2| is lowered by the cable 20 .toa position adjacent the side of the hull 16 of the vessel to be salvaged. The bell 2| is then tilted by manipulation of the hand wheel 32 so that its axis lies parallel to the side of the sunken vessel. Upon approaching the hull Hi the occupant .of the bell 2| opens the necessary valves and starts the pump 36 into operation and at the same time opens the high pressure line 41' "to cause the air which is vbeing fed thereinto from the pump aboard the tender to pass out through the pipe 40 and the Venturi pipe 39 to be dischanged into the surrounding water. By reason of the action .of the pump 35 it will be evident thatthe waterin the collar or working pay 25 will flow through the pipes 35 and 38 so as to :cause .a definite flow through the collar 25 or-working low which tends to draw the diving bell toward the hull l5. As the flange 52 of, the collar 5! contacts the hull, an effective seal will be produced which will prevent further entrance of water into the collar or Working bay 25 with the result .that all of :the water contained therein maybe discharged through the discharge pipe 39.

In order :to facilitate the complete discharge of the water from the working bay 25 I provide-a vacuum relief valve .59 which when the pressure in the bay 2:5 falls below a predetermined value opensland allows air to flow from the interior of the bell 2-l into the working bay 25 to equalizesthe pressure between the two. Havingin this fashion sealed the diving bell 2! to the hull I6 andcleared the working bay of any water, the bolts 34 may be released to permit th door 33 to be opened. so that the occupant of the :diving bell may :have access to the working bay through the port .24. Having thus gained access to the working bay it isonly necessary to weld the conical base 45 of the hook 43 to the :hull of the sunken vesselafter which the turnbuckle 44 maybe released to "relieve the strain on the links 42, and permit the hook 43 to be released from its position :in the mouth of the working bay. Having thus fastened the hook to the hull and disengaged the diving bell from the hook, the door 33 isclosed and sealed in place by .means .of the bolts 34 after which the valves are opened topermit water to reenter the working bay'or :collar 25-and the'si nal is given by the occupantof the :bell 'to elevate the hell to the surface. The entrance of the water into the working bay relieves :all external pressure thereon :and when so fi1led, the "lower portion of ther-bell will swing away from and-clear of the hook, thus allowing the bay :and bell '130 move upwardly and away from the vessel :causing the link 49 to be withdrawn from the openings '50 and 54 and cable .22 to leave its respective :openings Hand 55" through the slits 51 and 51". Having attached the necessary number of hooks and their respective :links 10 th hull :of the sunken vessel and elevated the :diving bell 2| to the surface it is next only necessaryto thread the upper ends of the cables attached to :the links 19 through the pontoons and to lower the latter into position to lift the sunken vessel.

The pontoons previously referred to comprise hollow cylindrical chambers designated generally 62 each of which comprises a hollow cylindrical body 63 closed at opposite ends and provided with a pair of inwardly extending radially disposed sockets 64, the inner end of each of which is connected to a tube 65 leading out through the wall of the pontoon at a point remote from the point through which its respective socket 64 extends. Formed in each socket 64 is a radial chamber 66 in which a toothed dog 61 is pivotally supported. This dog is so arranged that when a link 49 enters the socket its withdrawal will be prevented. Having fixed the hooks 43 to the hull IS the guide cables 22 are threaded through the sockets 64 and tubes 65 of their respective pontoons 62 and the latter are then flooded to cause them to settle downwardly along the guide cables 22 until the links 49 enter the sockets 64 at which time they are guided against the hull I6 with a flattened seat 68 formed on the pontoon engaging the side of the hull. As the pontoon settles into place the latch dogs 61 will engage their respective links 49 so that the links 49 will be securely locked in the sockets 64 and any movement of the pontoon awa from the vessel will be resisted. Upon settling of the pontoons 62 into place against the side of the hull I6, and the locking of the pontoons in place by the latch dogs 61, the water may be expelled from the pontoons, thus restoring their buoyancy and causing them to exert a lifting force on the sunken vessel l5 as suggested by the dotted lines in Figure 9. It will be understood of course that each pontoon may be equipped with a suitable attaching yoke 69 to which a cable leading to the surface vessel or tender I! may be connected in order to govern the rapidity with which the pontoon may be sunk.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. v

What I claim is:

Ship salvaging apparatus which includes a hook adapted to be secured to the hull of a sunken vessel, a link pivotally fixed at one end to the hook, a guide cable connected to the opposite end of the link and leading to the surface of a body of water on the bottom of which the sunken vessel lies, a pontoon having a guide passage through which the guide cable is adapted to be threaded, said pontoon also having a tubular socket communicating with the passage, said socket being adapted to receive the end of the link which is attached to the guide cable, said socket having a radially extending chamber near its mouth, a latch dog rockably mounted in said chamber and adapted to engage the link and hold it against withdrawal from the socket, and said pontoon having a fiat side adjacent the mouth of the socket for cooperation with the link in holding the pontoon from rocking motion about the hook.

RUSSELL G. SOLHEIM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 865,130 Ximenez Sept. 3, 1907 1,068,433 Karamanos July 29, 1913 1,373,672 Reno Apr. 15, 1921 1,388,363 Miller Aug. 23, 1921 1,393,894 McGill Oct. 18, 1921 1,838,566 Merritt Dec. 29, 1931 1,865,663 White July 5, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,236 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1918 

